#15 Archibald Barnes

2012
Barnes was one of the Commodores[apos] most valuable members of a defense that ranked among the NCAA Top 20 in numerous categories and was a huge factor in Vanderbilt[apos]s first back-to-back postseason bowl games… As senior, served as defensive co-captain, starting all 13 games at outside linebacker… He ranked fourth on the team with a career-high 66 total tackles… Also contributed 35 solo stops, an interception, one quarterback sack , a forced fumble, two tackles for loss, and five passes defended… Played sensationally against Florida, registering a single-game career high 12 tackles… Also contributed a sack and two tackles for loss in Vanderbilt[apos]s victory over Auburn… Opened the season with eight tackles vs. South Carolina and five stops at Northwestern… Contributed six tackles, a quarterback hurry and pass defended in victory at Ole Miss that provided bowl eligibility for the squad… Aided the regular season finale win at Wake Forest with third career interception and two additional passes defended… Added six tackles in team[apos]s Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl victory over N.C. State.

2011
Barnes enjoyed the best year of his Commodore career, becoming a top defensive performer by the AutoZone Liberty Bowl finale… After starting the year in reserve role, Barnes moved into the starting lineup at outside linebacker after injury to Tristan Strong… Play improved with each start… Saw action in all 13 games, with starting assignment in final nine contests… Finished with career highs in every stat: 37 solo tackles, 59 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, two quarterback sacks, two interceptions, and six passes defended… Shared team lead with three forced fumbles… Produced top outings late in season… Topped the squad in six solo tackles and 10 total tackles in stellar Liberty Bowl outing vs. Cincinnati… Also shared on QB sack and provided a key fourth-quarter FG block vs. Cincinnati… Picked off two passes at Tennessee, including one returned for school-record 100 yards and a touchdown… Finished year as team[apos]s fourth leading tackler… Played well in first career start, getting eight total stops at Alabama… Had seven stops at South Carolina and six tackles against Army and Tennessee… Contributed forced fumbles against Wake Forest and Kentucky, and South Carolina… Earned postseason Special Forces Player of the Year Award from coaches for efforts on special teams.

2010
Barnes continued his development as a sophomore outside linebacker… Played in all 12 games, seeing action as LB and special teams contributor… Earned first career start against LSU… Finished season with 11 total tackles, including one resulting in five-yard loss… Posted two solo tackles against Northwestern, LSU and Wake Forest… Also forced fumble in loss to LSU.

2009
As redshirt freshman, Barnes participated in every game… Contributed on various coverage units through midseason… Minutes at linebacker increased after mid-season injury to top reserve Tristan Strong and late-season concussion suffered by All-SEC performer Patrick Benoist… Played substantial minutes in SEC East games against Kentucky and Tennessee… Finished season with 11 solo tackles and 15 total stops… Set season highs in solo tackles (3) and total tackles (5) in loss to Kentucky… Earned team[apos]s Specialist of the Week honor after performance against Georgia Tech.

2008
Barnes spent his first year on the Vanderbilt campus as a redshirt, working at several defensive positions on the practice squad.

High School
Two-year captain and versatile starter… As senior, moved to QB with arrival of new coaching staff… Rushed for more than 1,000 yards and passed for 600 yards, earning All-Hillsborough County honors… Also saw action as OLB and free safety as senior… Played safety in postseason Hillsborough County All-Star Game… Started at WR as junior at Berkeley Prep… Standout forward in basketball, and lettered as sprinter/high jumper in track & field… All-European WR and outstanding soccer goalie as sophomore at Alexander Patch American HS in Germany.

Personal
Archibald Cornelius Barnes… Son of Russell and Marie Barnes… Born May, 19, 1990 in New York… Dad is a retired U.S. Air Force officer; mom teaches in Tampa public schools… Enrolled at Berkeley Prep after family moved from Germany… Has three brothers: Russell, graduate of Princeton; Tim, graduate at Virginia Tech; and Reggie, recent graduate of Berkeley Prep… Completed degree in Communication Studies from the College of Arts and Science in December 2012.